Fuel-supply device for carbureters



E. G. HODGES FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE FOR CARBURETERS. APPLICATION HLE'D 0CT.28, 1919.

1,363", 1&3, Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

rojects downwardly into the chamber 17 and is operatively connected with a float 41. I preferably extend the stem 40 through the float 41 and connect it "at itslower end with the valve 42 which coacts with the valve seat 33. It is obvious that the stem fits loosely in the tube 36 for permitting free passage of air from the valve 39 into the chamber 17 and to allcv free passage of air to the tube 44 from both the chamber 17 and around the valve 39.

The valve 39 is screwed on to the stem 40 so as to permit adjustment. A suitable perforated cover cap 43 is screwed on to the head 37.

Communlcating with the sleeve 36 is the pun 44 designed to be connected with a sultable vacuum creatlngmeans, preferably the intake manifold of the engine.

A suitable vent means for the intermedi ate chamber 18 is provided by means of a tube 45 which extends from the upper portion of the chamber 18, and is opened to the .atmosphere at a point above the fuel level in the chamber 17.

Communicating with the upper portion of the chamber 17 is the fuel supply line or pipe 46.

The casing 13 is suitably mounted on the carbureter for' adjustment with relation to the discharge end of the fuel nozzle, without varying the height of thefuel in the float chamber itself.

- height as to raise the Mounted in the upper wall of the float chamber 15 is a removable screw-plug 48, and mounted in the top of the chamber 17 is a similar plug 49.-

In the practical use of'my device the parts are assembled and installed in proper relathe carbureter, connected with the fuel tank, and the intake manifold, and adjusted.

The plugs 48 and 49 are taken out and fuel is poured into the chamber 17. This fuel will first fill this chamber to such a float 41, for thereby opening the valve 42, thereupon the fuel will flow down through the intermediate chamber into the float chamber until the float in the float chamber is raised to the point where it closes the valve 25, whereupon the plugs 48 and 49 are placed in position and the device is ready for use In the use of my device, the fuel is drawn from the fuel nozzle by the suction of the engine. As the fuel is drawn from the float chamber, it will be seen that the float therein is lowered for opening the valve 25 and per- -to the intermediate chamber and as result the float 41 is lowered, whereupon the valves 39 and 42 are seated.

A partial vacuum will be created in the upper part of the upper chamber which will cause fuel to flow through the fuel line 46 into the upper chamber, until the fuel in such chamber is suflicient to raise the float 41, for vthereby raising the valve 42 and permitting fuel to flow into the chamber 18, and also raising the valve 39 and connecting the upper part of the chamber 17 with the atmosphere.

The vacuum in the chamber 17 is thereby reduced and fuel will flow downwardly into the intermediate chamber.

With a device of this kind it will be seen that the float 41 is directly effected by the height of the fuel- 1n the upper chamber at all times, and 1t correspomhngly directly acts on or effects both of the valves 42 and 39 at all times, .so that with my structure the fuel in both the upper and intermediate chambers will be maintained at a practically constant level.

With the devices now commonly in use the general structure is such that there is first a substantial period of time when fuel is drawn into a chamber, and then a substantial period of time when no fuel is drawn into such chamber.

With my device the mechanism is very sensitive to variations in the fuel height, so that a very small variation in such height operates the valves 42 and 39. A very slight operation of such valves regulates the action of the vacuum creating means, so that the float 41 will be constantly moving up and down slightly for operating the valves and thus maintaining the fuel level substantially constant in the chamber 17 In. this connection attention is called to the advantage of a structure of this kind where the vacuum pipe 44 may be connected with the intake manifold and no special valve control other than that here shown is necessary.

Instantly when the valve 39 is opened the upper part of the chamber 17 is connected with the atmosphere and similarly the vacuum pipe is connected with the air, so that air will be drawn therethrough to the intake manifold.

It is of course obvious that as soon as the valv 39 is closed the engine will draw the air from the upper chamber.

On account of the construction just mentioned it will be noted that the pipe 44 will draw air either from the chamber 17 or through the cap 43 at practically all times, so that the effect of connecting the chamber 17 with the intake manifold will be uniform all the while, and there will be no periods when such effect will be to increase the richness of the mixture supplied to the engine, followed by other periods where the effect will be to decrease the richness of such mixture as is the case with certain devices now in use, and I thereby avoid interferlng with the regular carbureting processes of the engine.

It will be noted that I have provided a float chamber without the ordinary air vent.

When fuel is drawn from the fuel nozzle by a vacuum created in the carburetor, fuel will flow from the float chamber 15. There will then be created aslight partial vacuum in the upper portion of such float chamber. The float 27 will be lowered for opening the valve 25, and fuel will then flow more freely from the intermediate chamber 18 into the float chamber, on account of the slight partial vacuum in the float chamber, than would be the case if the upper portion of the float chamber were open to the atmosphere.

It will be seen, therefore, that I maintain an almost constant level of fuel in the float chamber.

The desirability for maintaining such a constant level in the float chamber is wellknown to all students of the internal combustion engine.

It will of course be obvious that the upper and intermediate chambers and the mecha nism in the upper chamber are intended for drawing fuel from a tank located below the level of the carbureter.

It will be seen that by loosening the clamp 47 the casing 13 may be raised or lowered, and thereby the float chamber may be raised or lowered for varying the height of the fuel therein with relation to the fuel nozzle, 1

without varying the quantity of fuel in the float chamber. The tube 12 is sufficiently flexible. topermit of such adjustment.

It willbe seen that I have provided a simple mechanism for accomplishing the objects set forth early herein.

I realize that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device for the accomplishment of such objects, without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any such changes in the structure which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a carburetor body, a fuel nozzle therein, a float chamber, a tube leading from said float chamber to said fuel nozzle, a fuel chamber adjacent to said float chamber, a passage leading from said fuel chamber to said float chamber, a valve 111 sald passage, a floatin the float chamber operatively connected with said valve, sa1d float chamber being closed except for the passage into the fuel chamber and the tube leading to said nozzle, whereby when fuel is drawn from 'the .fuel nozzle and the fuel in the float chamber is lowered, a slight partial vacuum will be treasur the upper part of the float chamber for assisting in drawing fuel from the fuel chamber into the float chamber.

'2. In a device of the class described, a carbureter body, a fuel nozzle therein, a float, chamber, a tube leading from the bottom of said float chamber to said fuel nozzle, a fuel chamber, a passage leading from the fuel chamber to the float chamber for conducting fuel from the fuel chamber to the float chamber by gravity, a valve in said passage, a float in said float chamber operatively connected with said valve, said float chamber being closed except for said passage and said tube, so that when fuel is drawn from the nozzle by suction, due to partial vacuum, and such suctionis suddenly stopped, a partial vacuum will have been created in the float chamber and overflow of the fuel nozzle will be prevented.

3. In a device of the class described; a fuel elevating and supplying means, comprising a fuel nozzle; a float chamber; a tube for connecting said float chamber with said fuel nozzle; an intermediate chamber; and an upper chamber; a valve controlled passage leading from said intermediate chamber to said float chamber; having a valve seat; a valve for coacting with said seat; a float in said float chamber; means for operatively connecting said float with said valve; a passage leading from said upper chamber to said intermediate cham her having a valve seat; a tube leading from the top of said upper chamber having a valve seat; valves for coacting with said last two described valve seats; a float in said upper chamber operatively connected with said last described valve, for imparting positive movement thereto; a tube connected with said second described tube and designed to be connected with a vacuum creating a float chamber; means for conducting fuel from. the float chamber to said nozzle; and a device for supporting said float chamber on said carbureter chamber at different heights with relation to said fuel nozzle.

5. In adevice of the class described, a carbureter body having a fuel nozzletherein, a float chamber, flexible means for conducting fuel from the float chamber to said nozzle, an adjustable device for supporting said float chamber at different heights, so that the level of the float chamber fuel may be varied with relation to the discharge end of the fuel nozzle, without changing the height of the fuel level within the float chamber.

Des Moines, Iowa. September 15, 1919.

' EDWARD G. HQDGES. 

